News That Interests and Impacts The Church In Ireland.

How often do we think about the future? Not in a vague way but in a real and meaningful one? Yes, I’m talking about what happens after we die, not only in the afterlife but here on Earth as well.

The topic of death is of course an uncomfortable one – and yes, it’s one the religious do seem to like discussing. When we do it is of course usually in terms of what happens to our souls in the afterlife. And that is the most important issue.

Hopefully we are all planning for this in some way. That is the purpose of religion and morals after all – to ensure that we reach Heaven rather than Hell. To achieve this we learn the teaching of Christ through the Bible and try to put those lessons into practice as guiding forces in our life.

But there are also thoughts about what happens to those we leave behind. There is much less discussion in the church about planning for this aspect. The reality is that preparing for what happens to your soul alone and not those left behind is a selfish approach.

This came to mind recently when I had the misfortune to have a hard drive crash with the potential loss of all its data. I was lucky that I was able to find an excellent company that specialises in Data Recovery in Dublin. Thanks to their services I was able to retrieve all the data and continue on with only minimal disruption.

But what if this was not possible?

I realised that in the digital age we actually own significantly more “stuff” than even a generation ago. Most of this is memories – photographs, emails etc. And many of these are stored on perishable media or behind password-locked accounts.

What would have happened if disaster had struck me rather than my disk drive? Would these memories have been lost forever? And would it matter?

Perhaps there is no need to pass on memories that would have been fleeting even a generation ago. But in many ways those photographs could be even more important to those I leave behind than to me. After all who does not like looking at old photographs and the feelings the evoke?

The answer about what to pass on and what to allow perish is one for each individual. But thinking about it is something everyone should do and I would encourage you to put in place a plan to ensure that the documents which you want to pass are available to the right people.

Palm Reading has a long history and it can be an amusing pastime. But it has recently come to my attention that many people have been taking it seriously . It is in this context that I feel it is my duty to warn against this.

There have been a number of opinions on what the Bible says about Palmistry. (Deuteronomy 18:10–12 would seem to me to be a prohibition as Moses warned his people before entering the Promised Land against divination and other practices: “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD”

Of course other phrases and sections can and have also been quoted to show that the Bible approves of Palm Readings. It is not my purpose here to discuss the deeper theological aspect. Whether the Bible approves or disapproves there would seem to be little harm in Reading Palms as simple entertainment. But using the same logic treating Palmistry alone as a serious method of telling the future is also erroneous.

Mostly this was an academic issue until the advent of the Internet. But now it is possible to have your palm read remotely. Many people have told me that they have had these Palm Readings Online with what they regard as impressive results.

As I said at the outset I do not want to comment on the efficacy of the results. I simply want here to warn people about taking it too seriously.

The Methodist Church in Carrickfergus has a long history. The Rev John Wesley visited the town on eight occasions between 1756 and 1778. In 1773 he records ‘there was a lively congregation’ at Carrickfergus. There still is today.

It is beliIeved that the first class meeting of Methodists in Carrickfergus took place among men of the Black Watch Regiment

In 1808 permission was given to build a new church, which was opened in West Street in 1812. It was a fine building for its time though the roof required regular repairs. This did not hamper the outreach work in the area and new churches were opened at Lame in 1827, Ballyclare in 1828, Hyde Park in 1829 and Islandmagee in 1829.

In 1884 the old church was showing its age and was unsuitable for the growing congregation, so it was replaced. By the end of the 19th century Carrickfergus could claim to have excellent premises, consisting of a fine church, a schoolhouse with daily and Sunday schools and a comfortable manse.

The story of the 20th century was of consolidation and outreach. Buildings were changed to suit more up to date needs, and in 1970 a suite of halls was opened in memory of the Rev S D Ferguson and a new gallery was added to the church.

Through time the buildings – once so fine – are now in need of repair. Planning and discussion are taking place towards a replacement church.

John Wesley, accompanied by Thomas Walsh, first visited Galway in 1756, but a Methodist society was not formed there until 1760.

There were at least two, and possibly three Methodist chapels in the city before the present church, which opened in 1839, was built. The initiative for this fine building on a premium site just off Eyre Square was taken by William Nassau Alley, who also raised much of the money. He was an uncle of the Revd James M Alley. William Alley later died of fever which he caught from the victims of the Great Famine, whom he was attempting to relieve. He is buried under a Corinthian column behind the church.

Adjoining the building, but not communicating, was the manse, later let to a tenant when a better residence was purchased on Eyre Square. As years went by the number of Methodists in the city declined, and the last minister to be appointed there was George L Webster (1926-31). Supernumerary (retired) ministers lived in the city for some years. When they left services became infrequent.

Galway Methodist Church

The year 1975 saw a sudden growth here as people moved into the city and an international congregation developed. In 1977 a minister was again stationed in Galway. The church was beautifully restored, and a communication opened with the ground floor of the adjoining residence. This became a Sunday School and meeting room. The minister occupied a flat upstairs. In 1980 a Methodist & Presbyterian alternating ministry was established here, and a new manse acquired in the suburbs.

The Rev Thomas Walsh, one of John Wesley’s preachers, was invited to Clonakilty in Co. Cork. He set out to visit it, with friends from Bandon, on 11 July 1752. When he was refused permission to preach in the town hall by the magistrate. Rev William Ellis (Rector), he instead preached to a large crowd on the nearest strand. On returning to the town the Rev Mr Walsh and his companions were put in jail where, like St Paul, they sang hymns and Mr Walsh preached through the bars to a huge sympathetic crowd who provided provisions and bedding.

Quite soon a Methodist society was formed in Clonakilty with regular house meetings.

John Bennett (mill manager, Rosscarbery) used to walk every Sunday to the town of Clonakilty preaching morning and evening for 27 years. In 1805 he moved to Clonakilty and was instrumental in building the first Methodist church in 1812 in Kent Street (known as Meeting-house Lane).

In 1860 the present building was erected on the same site, with schoolroom to the side and vestry (and playground) behind.

In 1885 a school and schoolhouse were built on the Western Road; it was run by the society until 1945. It is now a regional museum.

The school beside the church (with kitchen added in 1970) is used for Sunday School, Bible Study, Boys Brigade, ICA, MWI and other suitable events, and daily for a Montessori School

Not only is the church itself very beautiful but the town of Clonakilty is very charming and well worth a visit as you can see from this video…

Movilla Abbey Methodist Church, Newtownards are holding a Flower Festival from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 May 2016. Groups and individuals are welcome and it promises to be a fantastic weekend as full catering is available.

There is plenty of parking for cars and coaches so bring friends.

The festival will be held in the grounds of Movilla Abbey Methodist Church, Movilla Road Newtownards Co. Down BT23 8EZ

Weather permitting this should be a fantastic time for all the family and will once again bring the Movilla Methodist Community together in a celebration of Gods nature and family. Contact Oona for more details if you need them.